The public launch of the Irish Skin Foundation has been orga
nised over a six-week period commencing with the opening of an art exhibiti
on\, the subject of which is SKIN.

Introducing the Irish Skin
Foundation to the public through the medium of art has been motivated by a
number of factors. Skin is the most painted\, the most photographed and th
e most sculpted organ of the body. But perhaps the most remarkable function
of skin is its fundamental role in shaping how we feel about ourselves and
others\, its role in the making of our personalities. Our skin not only mo
ulds our bodies\, it shapes our personas. Diseased skin can act as an inhib
itory barrier\, whereas beautiful skin can be an enticing interface between
the microcosm of self and the macrocosm of the world.

The ex
hibition\, SKIN – an artistic atlas\, curated by the Director of the Royal
Hibernian Academy\, Patrick T. Murphy\, touches on some of the most dominan
t themes that skin invokes\, such as race\, gender\, age\, decay\, disease\
, texture\, identity\, eroticism\, race\, adornment and display. Ranging th
rough photography\, painting and video it promises to be a challenging and
stimulating exhibition.

The exhibition will be accompanied by
a full colour catalogue published jointly by the Royal Hibernian Academy a
nd the Irish Skin Foundation.